Automobile automatic lifting-jack.



P. A. FITZLOFF. I AUTOMOBILE AUTOMATIC LIFTING JACK.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 14, 1913.

Patenteo! Oct. 27, 1914.

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F. A. EI'EZMBFP.

AUTOMOBILE AUTOMATIC LIFTING JAOK.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 14, 19 13.

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scription of the view similar to Fig. I

,mobile-supporting posltion. Fig. 3 is a top ing' position.

FRANK A. FITZLOFF,

OF SPENCER, IOWA.

AUTOMOBILE AUTOMATIC LIFTINGr-JAGK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented (Pct. 2'7, 1914..

Application filed May 14, 1913. Serial No. 767,653.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRANK A. Frrznorr, acitizen of the United States, residing at Spencer, in the county ofClay, State of Iowa. have invented certain new and useful improvementsin Automobile Automatic Lifting-Jacks; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact de- 'nvention,1 such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same.

This invention relates to lifting jacks, and it more particularlyrelates to an improved form of automobile automatic lifting jack.

An object of the invention is to provide a device of this characterdesigned to be sta-' tioned on the floor of a garage in position forreceiving an automobile when it enters said garage, so that thechaulfeur or owner of the automobile may drive it upon the lifting jackby its own power and momentum, so as to eifectu'ally support theautomobile independently of its wheels.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lifting jack of thischaracter which automatically dismounts the automobile therefrom when itis released for use.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide a limiting jack of thischaracter which is adjustable throughout, so as to accommodateautomobiles of all sizes.

Another object is to provide a device of this character which is strong,durable, comparatively inexpensive and thoroughly efiicient.

Other objects and advantages may be recited hereinafter and in theclaims.

In the accompanying drawings, which supplement this speclficationtFigurel is a side elevation view of my improved automobile automaticlifting jack. Fig. 2 is a 1, except being in autothe device in itsnon-support- Fig. 4c is a front elevation Fig. 5 is an enlarged detailview of one of the front members which comprise the stopping and lookingdevices, and Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail view of one of the adjustablesupporting standards. j

Referring to these drawings, in which similar reference characterscorrespond with similar parts, throughout the several views: the deviceconsists of a pair of horizontal beams 10, standards 11 secured to andextending up from the beams, and a pair of plan view of view.

I formed of gas 1 proper construction, I 18 1s a series of eyes ment2'45, and

for fixing the These standards 18 are provided with teleinclined boardsor track elements 12, having their lower ends secured to the respectivebeams '10, while the upper ends are secured on the respective standards11. The beams are provided with a series of apertures 13 in which may beinterchangeably and rotatably seated an axle or pivotal member 14. Thispivotal member consists of the end sec ;,tions 15 and the relativelylarge middle sec tion 16; the section 16 being preferably pipe or othertubular elelments which telescope with the sections 15.

Set screws '17 or other proper securing; means may "be employed forholding the sections 15 and 16 in adjusted position. Rigidly secured oneach element 15 is a standard 18, which is also of tubular construction,able extension with, a set screw 19 which telescopes there- 20 beingprovided for and is provided with an adjust-J securing the elements 18and 19 in adjusted position. Upon the top of each standard extension 19is mounted a saddle 21 of any while upon the element is similar to therear axle, but the front standards 18" are slightly different from therear standards, having a hinge connection or joint 23.

An adjustable or telescoping link connects 22. The front axle 14 withthe hinge jolnt 23 and with any of the eyes 22, and this link comprisesa tubular section 24, a rod 25 telescoping with the elea. set screw 26being employed adjustment of each said link.

scoping extensions 19 having saddles 21 on their upper ends; set screws20 being employed for fixing the adjusted position of the telescopingelements 18 and 19. Braces 27 have their ends connected to the axles andopposite standards respectively, so as 'to hold the latter in paralleland rigid relation with each other. Retractile springs 28 have theirrespective front ends connected to the front standards 18., their rearends being connected to the respective beams 10, and these springs areadapted to draw the front standards rearward into their normal positionand coact therewith. and with the links which connect with the rearstandards, for moving and holding the latter in their normal position.

Upon' the forward end of each beam 10 is hingedly mounted a standard 29,having an upper section 30 telescoping therewith, a set screw 31 beingemployed for holding the elements 29 and 30 in adjusted position. Atubular brace element 31' and a telescoping element 32 are held inadjusted position by a set screw 33, being hingedly mounted to the frame10 at 34. Each element 30 has a stop element or rest 35 at its top,'andimmediately below this rest is a hook or detent 36,'formed on a bearing37 which is journaled on the element 30 and held in place by means of acollar 38 and a set screw 39. The collar 88 has a hinge element 40thereon which connects with the element 32.

The standards and brace elements and their adjuncts (30 to40 inclusive)are duplicated at opposite sides ofthe device and are connected by meansof a strut r supporting bar 41 and at the middle of this bar ispivotallymounted a hand lever 42 having links 43 pivotally connectedthereto, and each of these links pivotally connects with one of the arms44 which extend radially from the bearing 37 A spring 45 connects withthe bar 41 and the hand lever 42, so as to hold the latter in its normalposition.

The hooks 36 are preferably angular, each being provided with a camsurface 46 against which the standards 18 are adapted to impinge andslide into engagement with the crescent-shaped or ,arcuate stop elements35. Y 4

In operation, the device having been previously adjusted to suit theattending circumstances, the,automobile wheels are guided by the sidesof the beams 10, so that the -frontwheels aredirected to travel upon thetrack elements 12 and so that the front axle moves into engagement withthe saddles 21 at the moment that the rear axle is directly over thesaddles 21. At this stage, the momentum of the automobile causes thestandards 18 to swing forward, and motion is thereby imparted, throughthe medium of the link elements 24 and 25, to the rear standards 18, andthe rear end'of the automobile is thereby raised; while the forwardendthereof is raised by the front standard, so that the automobile maynow swing clear of the floor and of the track elements 12, in

a forward direction, until the stop elements 35 engage with thestandards 18', and the hooks 36 also engage with said standards andthereby prevent the automobile from swinging rearwardly on thesupporting standards. During the swinging movement of the automobile,the springs 28 become more and more taut, so as to check and cushion themovement of the automobile, and thereby prevent undue shock when thestandards 18 are arrested by the stops 35. When the automobile is thussupported, it is seen that the forward standards 18 are slightlyinclined forwardly, While the rear standards 18 have a somewhat greaterinclination in a rearward direction, and therehave provided a device ofthis character fore, the weight of the rear end of the automobile tendsto'draw the front standards rearward, through the medium of the linkelements, and the springs 28 also tend to swing the automobilerearwardly, so that when the hooks 36 release the standards 18', theautomobile swings easily rearward until its front wheels travel upon-thetrack elements 12 and its rear wheels travel upon the floor of thegarage; and therefore, after the jack has been properly adjusted andprepared, this motion of the machine eliminates the necessity forcranking it, as is obvious.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I which is fully capable ofattaining the foregoing objects, in a thoroughly practical and Yefiicient manner, so that the wheels of the automobile may be easilyremoved for repairing or lubricating, and the tires are relieved of thedead weight of the automobile during its storage.

I do not limit my inventionto the exact details of construction,combination and arrangement of parts, as herewith illustrated anddescribed, but my invention may only be limited by a reasonableinterpretation. of the claims.

I claim:

1. In an automobile jack mechanism, the combination with parallel trackmembers, of rear jacks pivoted to said track members and adapted tosupport the rear axle of an auto mobile, front acks pivoted to saidtrack members and adapted to support the front 100 axle of anautomobile, links connecting said front jacks with said rear jacks, apair of standards on said track membersv in advance of said front jacks,horizontally swinging hooks pivoted on said standards and having camsurfaces engaged by said front jacks when the latter are moved forwardlyWhereby said hooks are-moved outwardly, a tension means forautomaticallymoving said hooks inwardly to engage in rear of said front jacks andhold all of said jacks in position to support the automobile above saidtrack members, a bar connecting said standards, a lever pivoted onsaidbar, links connecting said lever with said hooks whereby upon maniulation of said lever the hooks are releasec from said standards, andcurved v horizontally disposed stop members fixed to said standards atthe pivots of said hooks and adapted to embrace and form abutments forthe front sides of said front jacks when said hooks are engaging therear sides of said front jacks whereby said jacks are positively heldagainst lateral displacement.

2. In an automobile jack mechanism, the combination with parallel trackmembers, of rear jacks pivoted to said track members and adapted tosupport the rear axle of an automobile, front jacks pivoted to saidtrack members and adapted to support. the front amazes,

axle of an automobile, links connecting said fr nt jacks with said rearjacks, said acks being elevated by the momentum of an automobile drivenagainst the forward jacks, and means for holding said jacks in theirelevated positions, said means "comprising a pair of standards securedon said track members adjacent said stops secured on said standards,andmovable latch members pivoted onsaid standards and adapted tocooperate With said stops for embracing said standards, said latchmemil'ront jacks, rigidbers being provided upon their front faces withcam surfaces engageable by said standards for moving said members and acoil spring for holding said latch members normally in the path ofmovement of said forward jacks.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature, in the presence of twowitnesses.

FRANK A. FITZLOFF. \Vitnesses CHAS. R. HOWE, A. E. ANDERSON.

